A recent check on the data reveals that the number of Cyclones as well as Severe Cyclones in Arabian Sea as well as the Bay of Bengal have increased by almost 11% in the last one decade. Moreover, the rising trend has shown more growth in the last 5 years with an increase of about 32%.
A total of seven Cyclones have already formed in the Arabian as well as Bay of Bengal in 2018, and 2019 until now. Although out of the seven, four Cyclones failed to make a landfall. Cyclone Vayu, Kyarr and Maha degenerated before reaching the coast. Also, Cyclone Pabuk failed to make a landfall which formed in the Bay of Bengal. However, Cyclone Fani and Maha managed to cause extensive damage to life and property.
This year, four cyclones formed over the Arabian Sea which is equal to the number of Cyclones the water body saw in 1902. After 1902, only in 2019 has seen as many as four cyclones in Arabian Sea which is very rare as Bay of Bengal is generally more active than the Arabian Sea.
Moreover, the Cyclones in Bay of Bengal remain active and make a landfall over East coast of India or sometimes recurve towards Bangladesh and Myanmar but rarely degenerate before making a landfall. However, cyclones forming in Arabian Sea usually move in Northwest direction towards south Asian countries like Yaman, Oman, or Somalia. Sometimes, they even recurve towards Pakistan, Gujarat or rarely towards the Maharashtra coast.
These increased number of Cyclones have brought about havoc in the form of very heavy rains, rough sea conditions as well as magnificent damage to the coastal areas. But not just this, the alarming rise in the number of cyclones is being traced back to ‘Global Warming’. The climate change and global warming may be the reason behind the increasing number of Cyclones over the Bay as well as the Arabian Sea.
The most recent Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Bulbul took a toll on life and property in southern parts of Gangetic West Bengal. The recent cyclones and consequent untimely rains have also caused significant damage to kharif crops in various locations in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Gangetic West Bengal and Odisha.
If nothing, this points towards a bigger calamity towards which the Earth is slowly heading to.
Image Credits – The Hindu
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